MARIÁN VARGA & COLLEGIUM MUSICUM

The record, although it is not noted on the cover was recorded live.

Mikrokozmos Based on the same track by Bela Bartók with a lot of parts added by the band, the track starts with the main melody played by the Hammond organ and then by the guitar. later the two instruments engage in exchanging various motifs. Varga plays a rather weird Hammond solo (but it´s short). He switches to piano then and the guitarist Juraj Farkaš gets a great short lead passage, after which Varga plays a short passage on the piano as well. Then othe main returns with Varga on organ again. Overall a very tight and inspired track. 5 stars

Nech žije človek The song kicks off with a longer drumming intro. Then a lovely, classical sounding guitar motif starts. Marvelous. Focus would be without a doubt proud of it. Then the whole number gets faster and heavier, showcasing mostly the guitarist Jozef Farkaš, who plays a blazing wah wahed solo. The bassist gets his solo shortly afterwards. Frankly, it is too long, monotonous and not even that technically good. Thankfully Farkaš plays another great guitar solo. For most of the time, Varga stays in the background, in fact it seems he didn´t play at all on this one. Then the gorgeous reneissamnce like guitar motif returns and gets into a powerful climax. Varga then plays a great melodic motif (based on the suite Pf 1972 from Konvergencie and even plays a snippet of Mozart ´s Alla Turca with the band. His solo then turns into a weird passge sounding like Emerson at his most excessive, but itś short again and he concludes the track with a majestic classical sounding theme. 5 stars

Preludium C dur A variation on Prokofiev´s work. Starts of melodically and then turns into a faster part, with more "avantgard" playing from Varga (but it still has a melody and sounds interesting). The other passages (also by Varga on Hammond) are more melodic and have Slavonic feel to them (The main difference between Varga and Emerson is that Varga has many Slavonic overtones in his own compositions as well - no wonder, since he is Slovak - and he is also more keen on melody and less jazzy (except for the album Collegium Musicum Live). Still, the track would be better if shortened of a minute or two. 4.5 stars

Hudba k vodometu č. 1 A lovely classical sounding motif opens this uptempo track. Unlike the previous number, the guitar is present again. Farkaš is eccelent, especially in the slower part which comes after the opening one ,where he plays a soaring but relaxed bluesy guitar solo. Howevere, Varga´s lead is just a bunch of dissononant screeching tones. Thankfully, he leaves it after a few seconds and develops a much better and more melodic motif, upon which Farkaš builds another amazing guitar solo. The passage then fades out and the main melody comes in again, after which Varga develops another short solo, and the track concludes with a fullband part. 5 stars

Nesmierny smútok hotelovej izby A short, melancholic piano only piece with a jazzy edge, that´s highly reminiscent of Emerson in his early ELP days. Not the most original track, but theatmosphere is great and very evocative. 3.5 stars

Overal rating: 5 STARS

ESSENTIAL: A MASTERPIECE OF PROGRESSIVE MUSIC

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